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Tottenham have spent most of the season worrying about relegation, but Jonathan Woodgate believes it is time to look up, not down.

A dismal start to the season left Spurs with just two points from their first eight games and cost manager Juande Ramos his job,

Upbeat: Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate is feeling positive

Under his successor, Harry Redknapp, Tottenham’s fortunes have improved, but inconsistency has ensured avoiding relegation has remained the priority for much of the season.

However, Sunday’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa propelled the London club up to 11th, six points above the relegation zone and just four points from seventh-spot – a position which is likely to earn a place in next year’s Europa League, the revamped Uefa Cup.

And Woodgate, a rock in defence against Villa, admitted Spurs were in with a shout of finishing seventh.

‘I would rather be an optimist than a pessimist, and I would rather look up than down,’ said the former Middlesbrough centre-back.